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Summer Opportunities


What do you have planned for this summer? As college students, summer is one of the best times to get more involved and explore your interests all the while learning new skills, forming new connections, and strengthening your knowledge. From taking summer sessions as a way of staying on track or moving forward with your degree process to engaging in research and exploring different internships, there are many different opportunities that you can take advantage of as a way of enriching your undergraduate career experience!

With some classes only offered in certain quarters, a benefit that comes with taking summer classes is that you are able to fulfill the prerequisite of the course of your interest if there is any. With a variety of different classes and different sessions offered, ranging from general science series to breadth courses, you will surely be able to generate a summer class schedule that will be best for you and your current academic journey. Given the smaller class size, summer classes create a more intimate learning experience, as you will have ample opportunity to address your concerns and communicate your understanding of the instructed course material. With the opportunity of seeing the professor or instructor more frequently in comparison to the regular quarter during the academic year, you also have the chance to strengthen your rapport and relationship with them, which may be beneficial for you in the future. For more details on summer sessions and course offerings, visit https://summer.ucr.edu/.  

Interested in applying science lessons learned from lectures in a lab setting? Well, aside from summer sessions, there are many different research-focused programs that you can obtain hands-on experience in a lab setting. From RISE and MARC U STAR programs to MSRIP and IREU, there are various opportunities that you can be involved in research and learn about the translation of an idea into the real-world application through experiments and studies. Through your time assisting on research projects, not only will you strengthen your critical thinking skills and gain professional development, but you will also be able to foster and develop connections with the faculty mentor in charge of the lab, along with graduate students and other peers that are a part of the team.

Another great way of supplementing your education and further develop your interests in potential career aspirations is through internships and volunteer opportunities. Ranging from NASA and pharmaceutical companies to hospitals and other healthcare facilities, spending time completing an internship or dedicating your service to a volunteer opportunity will allow you to learn more about yourself, the work-life balance you prefer, and the demands, as well as the expectations of the profession of your interests. You may even find new hobbies or have a new consideration for a future career!

No matter how you decide to spend and use your summer, taking advantage of the time and opportunities will definitely enrich your experience as an undergraduate student and bring growth to different areas of your life academically, professionally, and personally. 

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